Fight over disposal well moves to Victoria commissioners

FIGHT OVER WATER WELL

American Disposal Services also has applied for a permit from the Victoria County Groundwater Conservation District to annually pump about 20 million gallons of water on its site.

The company withdrew its permit application so it could put together a hydro-geology report. J.D. Ivey said his company has given the almost 30-page report to the district and planned to ask for a public hearing in October.

Well opponent Patsy Price said a petition against the permit, signed by almost 200 people, was turned in to the district.

2012 BUDGET HEARING

WHAT: Public hearing on proposed 2012 budget

WHEN: Monday after regular 10 p.m. meeting

WHERE: 115 N. Bridge St., second floor

The Victoria County Commissioners Court may lend its support to almost 600 residents in their fight against a disposal well.

American Disposal Services has received a permit for a disposal well, which injects non-hazardous waste from oil and gas production 1,500 feet below groundwater, said Austin Ivey, company manager.

J.D. Ivey, the company's president, said he still needed a drilling, or W-1, permit before he could use his unconstructed disposal well.

However, the plan has caused an uproar among rural, county residents who live near the site and depend on private water wells.

Residents have formed the Citizens Against the Dump group, said Patsy Price, a committee member.

Two town hall meetings were formed by residents, Price said. On Thurday, the group sent a petition signed by about 600 people to the railroad commission, state Sen. Glenn Hegar and state Rep. Geanie Morrison.

County Commissioner Kevin Janak has joined the effort by writing a letter to be put before the commissioners court. The court is expected to vote Monday on whether to send the letter.

The letter asks the Texas Railroad Commission to hold a public hearing before it approves a drilling permit for American Disposal. The goal of the letter is to stop the well's installation because of its six-acre location, Janak said.

The letter noted that the site slopes to a drainage channel 1,600 yards from the Guadalupe River. It also said that the well would be drilled through the Evangeline Aquifer and would be down the road from Victoria's water reservoirs.

Ivey said Friday he wasn't aware of the proposed letter. But said disposal wells across Texas were built near water sources.

Ivey said his company had a perfect safety record for more than 35 years. The move would allow the company to own the land it operates on, and would provide good access from Loop 463 for the 50 or so trucks that will visit each day, Ivey said.